Fresh debates are emerging in Benin following the intervention of the ECOWAS standby force—made up of troops from Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and Sierra Leone, the current chair of the regional bloc. Their involvement came in the wake of last Sunday’s failed military takeover, raising new questions about regional security cooperation.
The controversy intensified after France announced that it played a key role in helping foil the attempted coup. According to Paris, its assistance included surveillance, observation, and logistical support provided directly to Benin’s armed forces. This revelation has reignited longstanding accusations of Western interference in West African affairs.
Within Benin and across the region, opinions remain sharply divided. While some see France’s involvement as necessary to preserve stability, critics argue that such interventions undermine ECOWAS’s autonomy and fuel distrust among citizens already wary of foreign influence.
Sahel analyst and journalist Seidick Abba adds that the episode highlights deeper tensions around sovereignty, security, and the future of regional crisis management. He says the debate is far from over, as West Africans continue to question who truly drives decision-making in moments of political instability.
